Yonadam Kanna

Yonadam Yousip Kanna (Syriac: ܝܘܢܕܡ ܝܘܣܦ ܟܢܢܐ‎, also known as Rabi Yacoub Yosep) is an Assyrian politician and the first Christian member of the Iraqi National Assembly since 2003. [1] Kanna also serves as the current Secretary-General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement, holding the position since 2001.

Yonadam Yousip Kanna
ܝܘܢܕܡ ܝܘܣܦ ܟܢܢܐ
Council of Representatives of Iraq
Assumed office
30 January 2005
In office
30 January 2005 – present
KRG Minister of Housing and Public Works
In office
1992–1999
KRG Minister of Industry and Energy
In office
1999–2001
Secretary-General of Assyrian Democratic Movement
In office
2001 – present
Personal details
Born (1951-01-01) 1 January 1951
Habbaniyah, Kingdom of Iraq (now Iraq)
Political partyAssyrian Democratic Movement
Alma materUniversity of Sulaymaniyah

Early life and education

Yonadam Yousip Kanna was born in Al-Anbar, Iraq in 1951.[2] He completed his tertiary education at the University of Sulaymaniyah in 1975, graduating with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering.[2]

Political career

Assyrian Democratic Movement

Yonadam Kanna is one of the founding members of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM) and participated in the secret movement from its inception in 1979 until the 1991 uprisings in Iraq. In 1984, Kanna was sentenced to death in absentia by the Ba'ath led Iraqi government for participating in a group that opposed the Iraqi regime. Kanna is the current Secretary-General of the ADM after succeeding Ninos Pithyou in 2001 during the third congress of the ADM held in Erbil.[3] In addition to leading the ADM, Kanna also heads the Al-Rafidain National List that participates in the Iraqi parliamentary elections.

Kurdistan Regional Government

Kanna is a former Kurdistan Regional Government minister who was appointed as a Minister of Housing and Public Works in KRG from 1992 to 1999 and later served as Minister of Industry and Energy from 1999 to 2001. [4]

Iraq Government

Kanna was a founding member of the Iraqi Governing Council that was created following the Invasion of Iraq led by the United States in 2003. In the same year, Kanna held the position of Chairman of the 'Committee on Reconstruction and Public Services for the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian component'. In December 2004, Kanna was a member of the National Transitional Council and served as a Chairman for Age and Public Services.

He was elected to the National Assembly of Iraq as head of the Al Rafideen National List in the January and December 2005 elections. During the same year, Kanna became a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee that developed the current Constitution of Iraq. From 2006-2010, Kanna was Vice-Chairman of the 'Economy, Investment and Reconstruction Committee'.[5]

During the Iraqi parliamentary election, 2010, Kanna was one of five Christians elected into the Iraq National Assembly, continuing from his first term in 2005. [6]

Kanna was re-elected for his third term during the Iraqi parliamentary election, 2014 claiming the Baghdad seat as part of the five seats in the Christian quota.

In 2015, Kanna pushed for an educational curriculum that prevents the "Daesh mentality" through widespread and in-depth education and cultural programs to address feelings of injustice and exclusion. [7]

Kanna has been opposed to and vowed to appeal the Article 14 legislation passed in Iraqi parliament that 'bans the import, sale and production of alcohol' which he believes negatively affects businesses that are mainly run by Christians in Iraq.[8]

In addition to other Assyrian political figures, Kanna has pressured the Iraqi government to develop a self-governed province in the Nineveh plain to be formed in the federal state of Iraq to protect minorities and allow them to govern their own communities. [9]

Personal life

Yonadam Kanna is the maternal uncle of the former Iraqi Environment Minister, Sargon Lazar Slewa.

References
  1. Rubin, Barry. The Middle East: A Guide to Politics, Economics, Society and Culture.
  2. "Younadam Yousef Kanna". Assyrian Information Management (AIM). 2010-02-25. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
  3. https://www.rferl.org/a/1343208.html
  5. http://www.zowaa.org/younadamkanna/#.W4CnXZMzbOR
  6. Kymlicka, Will; Pföstl, Eva. Multiculturalism and Minority Rights in the Arab World. Oxford University Press. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-19-967513-5.
  7. Gienger, Viola. "Iraq Needs International Pressure, Unity to Stem Violence, Lawmaker Says". United States Institute of Peace.
  8. "Iraqi parliament bans alcohol, opponents to appeal 'unconstitutional' measure". Russia Today.
  9. Gombacci, Marco. "Iraqi Christians ask EU to support the creation of a Nineveh Plain Province". European Post.
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